The Delta independent., 1887-04-12
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
rrem our regular correspondent.

in the city, talked over. preliminaries.
visited the president, interviewed Sec-
retary Lamar, received their commits
sions, took the oath of Office. inspected
their temporary quarters, took posses
sion of them, elected their chairman,
and entered upon their new duties.
So. what the country has long been
clamoring for is now AM accomplished
fact. But, while the new court will be
able to remedy some evils in current
transportation methods, it is pretty
certain not to do so great an amount of
good as is anticipated from it by all
sorts of nformers who think that
everything can Ire regulated by law.
The president of the commission is
Judge Cooiey,a Michigan republican.
His election was predetermined. 1t
was understood by the other members
that the president wanted him to be at
the head, and they acquiesed in his
choice without discussion, admitting
that the Judge knew more about law
and railroad matters than all the others
put together. AS the board is now
made up and organized, Gt consists of
three democrats and two republicans,
ono of which is chairman,) when il
fails to satisfy shippers-as it is al
most certain to >do-the democratic
house can divide tile incoming growls
with the. republican, senate, and the
democratic majority ofthe commission
can plead that the work was directed
by republican chairman. To appoint
Il majority Of republicans on the COM
mission would have been shrewd
move on the part Of the president, but
the next wisest thing was to give the
republican party the management OF
it and the responsibility attached.
Probably no appointment Of Presi-'
dent Cleveland's since the 4th OF
March, 1885, has given more general
satisfaction than that OF Mr.. Fairchild
to be secretary of the treasury. 1t is
in the direct line too of civil service
lelol lila pioAotioh ioi ICsi "ciits
The new cabinet officer is very popular
at the treasury department as is also
Judge Maynard, the second comptrol-
Ter, who takes the place of assistant
secretary. When their promotions
were authoritatively announced, these
two officials were overwhelmed with
congratulations, the rush was so great
that Mr.. Fairchild was forced to ask
all callers to desist until a certain
hour. when both gentlemen gave them
selves up to handshaking with the
hundreds of employees of the depart
ment. Mrs. Fairchild, the wife of the
new secretary of the treasury, and the
first lady of the cabinet, is quiet, cul
tivated lady, with retiring and gra-
cious manners, one whom it will be a
pleasure to regard as a leader. She is
a niece Of the late Governor Seymore,
of New York. and the family, being in
mourning, have not gone much in So
ciety since they came here. They live
in rather modest house in the fash
ionable west end, aud Mrs. Fairchild
remarked that it was not until recently
that they decided to keep it, not know
ing but what they would 80 out Of
Office with Secretary Manning.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
marble halls and corridors Of the capi
tai have been deserted by our law
makers for a month, the guides about
the building ale doing a fourishing
business. Visitors from all parts of
the United States flock there every day
by the hundreds. Before the fiftieth
congress begins its executive life, the
capitol and grounds will present Il
much grander appearance than they
have ever before possessed. Great
changes for the better are in progress,
The amount asked for this purpose
wos $l25, 900, but congress decided that
the present condition of the capitol
approaches should be remedied as
quickly as possible, and doubled the
amount. The $2oO,O0O thus placed at
the disposal OF the architect, will en-
able him to have the work entirely
completed during the summer. Just
beyond the beautiful plaza which
stretches eastward from the capital,
excavations and preparations are being
made for the erection OF the new Con-
gressonal library. where the largest
and most valuable collection of books
in the United States are to be slowed
away. There are over 100000 vol
umns, and it is commonly said that Mr..
Spofford. the librarian of congress,
knows something about the contents
of every volume in the library. A
congressman recently said, facetously,
II don't read BOOKS, read Spofford."
II senator or member wants a quota
tion that is difficult to find or is obscure